Senator Farley Announces "love Your Library" License Plates Available

Library lovers can show their appreciation with a new "Love Your Library" license plate available from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R,C - Schenectady).

"As Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Libraries, and the Senate sponsor of the law creating these special license plates, it is an honor to assist the DMV in the creation of this new custom license plate," said Senator Farley, adding, "I commend DMV Commissioner Martinez and his staff for working with the library community to develop this attractive design. We New Yorkers love our libraries and this is a great way to show our support."

The plate features a design logo of books, computer keyboard, and other library icons and includes the words "READ * LEARN * EXPLORE." It is available to anyone with a passenger or commercial vehicle registered in New York State.

The initial cost for the "Love Your Library" license plate with a number assigned by the Department of Motor Vehicles is $43 with an annual renewal fee of $25. The annual renewal fee from the sale of the "Love Your Library" license plate goes to support the New York State Library's Summer Reading Program which is offered by local libraries throughout the State. New Yorkers can order the "Love Your Library" license plate at any Department of Motor Vehicles issuing office, or by going to the department's website at www.nysdmv.com.

Extensive research has shown that library summer reading programs help prevent learning losses over the summer. Losses add up year-by-year and are one reason for the academic gap between low- and high-income children. The New York State Library's Statewide Summer Reading Program makes books, computer activities, and other reading-related activities available to youngsters in most communities throughout the State. For more information about the New York State Library's Statewide Summer Reading Program, go to the New York State Library website at www.nysl.nysed.gov and click on the "Statewide Summer Reading" buttons.

Earlier this summer, both Senator Farley and New York's State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Janet Martin Welch were honored by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) during the ALA Annual Conference this June in Chicago.

"I am very humbled by this award," Senator Farley said. "Only three nominees from New York were honored this year and I am very proud to be part of this elite selection." The New York Times was the third honoree.

In a congratulatory letter to Senator Farley, ALTA Past-President Marguerite Ritchey wrote: "As you know, you were chosen by your state as one of the extraordinary library advocates of the past five years, and your name was added to the ALA/ALTA National Advocacy Honor Roll ... You have joined a select group of citizens who have truly made a difference in advocating for America's libraries ... Congratulations on this high honor and thank you for your outstanding service."

Senator Farley has been Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Libraries since 1978, sponsoring virtually all significant library legislation adopted over the course of almost three decades. He was a member of the Governor's Commission on Libraries, an elected delegate to the White House Conferences on Libraries in 1979 and 1991, and a recipient of the President's award from the New York Library Association.

"Libraries are a place of lifelong learning," Senator Farley added. "Librarians are truly amazing people. They inspire our youth and invite them into a library where there is an adventure on every shelf. They are also instrumental in maintaining the cataloguing system, processing and preparing books and audiovisual formats, shelving books and other mediums. Librarians and their staff work so hard behind the scenes and I am proud to be an advocate for them and the 7,000 library institutions in New York State which offer services ranging from scholarly research to recreational reading."